A Historic Virginia Home Filled With Antiques, Gardens & Southern Hospitality

For Kristy and Brian McCormally, restoring the Truitt House wasn't simply about saving a historic property. It was about creating a home that invites people in.

When the couple first saw the 1909 Greek Revival mansion in Suffolk, Virginia, they weren't looking to move. Living outside Fredericksburg, they were content where they were. But after receiving notice of an upcoming auction, they were curious and toured the grand home in Suffolk's historic district.

As they explored the property, the couple separated, and Kristy found herself admiring the architecture and personality of the home. They reunited near the carriage house and immediately realized they had reached the same conclusion.

"I asked him what he thought, and he said, 'I think we should buy it,'" McCormally said. "I said, 'I agree,' and we did."

Four years later, they've never looked back.

Why Entertaining Is at the Heart of Everything

For McCormally, beautiful rooms are only meaningful if they're filled with people.

"I think some of the magic of life happens around the dining room table," McCormally said.

Her love of entertaining began in childhood. Raised in a small Florida town, she watched her mother, grandmother and the women of her church mark every important occasion through food and hospitality. Today, Kristy and Brian created Truitt House Living to help people find confidence through hospitality.

Shortly after moving to Suffolk, the McCormallys realized they knew very few people in their new community. As they met neighbors, they discovered many of them didn't know one another either. And so what began as a monthly Sunday supper for a dozen people has grown into a beloved tradition with more than 30 regular guests.

"People know each other's children now," McCormally said. "They know who's getting married and who's having babies. We've become a neighborhood again."

Despite the grandeur of the home, McCormally says home ultimately comes down to something much simpler than antiques or architecture.

"When I hear the sound of people in this house, I know something good is happening," McCormally said. "It fills my soul."

A House With More Than a Century of Stories

Built in 1909 for lumber magnate George W. Truitt, the home remains one of Suffolk's architectural treasures. Original plaster moldings, hand-painted murals, nine fireplaces, soaring 14-foot ceilings and approximately 2,000 panes of wavy glass have all survived more than a century.

Mr. Truitt reportedly spent two decades collecting wood before construction began, resulting in extraordinary craftsmanship throughout the house. The library, wrapped entirely in curly pine, is believed to have been milled from a single tree.

"We didn't do anything to change the house structurally," McCormally said. "We painted, brought in artwork and tried to calm everything down. The architecture really wanted to do all the talking."

Original light fixtures still hang throughout the home, while two paintings commissioned by the original owner remain in place exactly where they were installed in 1909.

Once operated as a bed-and-breakfast, the home was transformed back into a family residence with soft blues, creams and collected antiques that allow the historic architecture to shine.

"It's a really happy home," McCormally said. "It feels like it wants a party all the time."

Outside, Brian's passion for gardening has completely reshaped the property. When the McCormallys arrived, there were few gardens to speak of. Today, roses, hydrangeas, camellias, fountains and more than 100 containers surround the home.

Like the house itself, the gardens continue to evolve. Historic shutters have been restored one by one, aging systems repaired and original details carefully preserved. The couple views stewardship as part of the privilege.

"We fell in love with this house and decided we were going to plant a flag and fight for this space," she said.